Disadvantages of Networking
● Server can fail at any time
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● Network faults can cause loss of data
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● Network loss could lead to loss of resources
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● User work is dependent on the network
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● The system is open to hackers
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● Decisions tend to become centralized
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● Could become inefficient
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● Could degrade in performance
Types of Networks
1. Local Area Network (LAN)
● This covers a relatively small area
● This type of network is normally used in schools, homes, small banks, churches or small
offices.
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2. Wide Area Network (WAN)
This connects larger geographical areas such as an entire nation
E.g- (Bmobile covers all of Trinidad)
This network connects with the Fibre-Optic Cables or via satellites
3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
● This is similar to a LAN but spans an entire campus or city
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● A MAN consists of small LANs when connected together it makes up a MAN
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● MANs are extremely efficient and provide fast communication via fibre-optic cables
Data Transmission
This is the physical transmission of data or information over a point-to-point channel
Data can be transmitted via
1. Radio waves
2. Microwaves
3. Infrared Signals
Data transmission channels can either be:
Wired or Wireless
Wired Media Includes Wireless Media Include
Radio Waves
Microwaves
Infrared
Twisted pair cables
Fibre-optic cables
Coaxial cables
Twisted Pair Cables
This type of cable is used by older telephone networks
This cable is used in small offices/schools
Advantages-
They are cheap
Flexible and lightweight
Very easy to set up and install
Disadvantage
Easy to damage
They have very low bandwidth
Fibre Optic cables
This is a networking cable that is made up of glass threads to transmit data
Because it is made of glass and it is very thin, data is transmitted at lightening speed
Advantages
1. Greater/Faster Bandwidth so more data can be transmitted
2. It is thinner and lightweight
3. Data can be transmitted digitally
Disadvantages
1. Very expensive to install
2. Very fragile. if twisted it can break. Glass can be affected by chemicals
3. Cannot be joined together
Coaxial Cables
This cable is made out of copper and is used by cable TV’s (FLOW). This type of cable is much
thicker than the other two so data is transmitted at a slower rate compared to the fibre-optic but
stil faster compared to the twisted pair.
Advantages.
1. They are cheap to make and install
2. They have a “good” bandwidth
3. They are easy to modify
Disadvantages
1. They are vulnerable to lightning strikes
2. It is not robust. If you bend it too tightly, it will disrupt the signal
Wireless Media
Wireless is used to explain telecommunication in which electromagnetic waves( rather some
form of wire) carry a signal over part or the entire communication party
The 3 broad categories of wireless media are:
1. Radio Signal Transmission
2. Microwave Transmission
3. Infrared Transmission
Radio Signal Transmission
Radio Waves are a form of electromagnetic spectrum radiation which also include visible and
UV light (sunlight) and X-rays
Microwave Transmission
This refers to an electromagnetic signal having a frequency higher than 1 Ghz which results in
a shorter distance of communication
Infrared transmission
This refers to an electromagnetic radiation spectrum which has a wavelength longer than those
of visible light but shorter than radio waves